Taliban’s plot to overrun Shindand frustrated: Rahimi

HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): At least 1,500 Taliban militants coming from various areas had been planning to attack and overrun the Shindand district of western Herat province, but their plan was frustrated, the governor said on Wednesday.

Mohammad Asif Rahimi, addressing provincial council members and a high-ranking government delegation, said the insurgents had gathered in Shindand over during the past few days coming from Farah, Helmand and Quetta City of neighboring Pakistan.

Rahimi said Shindand district having an airport was a strategic district and the Taliban wanted to overrun it but they were driven as a result of an ongoing operation.

To oversee the operation, the governor said he visited the district and found most areas there had been cleared of insurgents.

He called the operation in Shindand as “very effective” and said security forces were advancing cooperatively and had inflicted heavy casualties on the rebels.

After the press conference, Interior Ministry spokesman Seddiq Seddiqi alleged international terrorists were fighting in Shindand alongside local militants.

“According to our intelligence information, international terrorists are fighting alongside Taliban in the district.”

He said efforts were underway to establish new posts for uprising forces in Shindand to keep security for their areas.

Rahimi praised the Ministry of Interior (MoI) for its efforts to improve the security situation in the district and taking action against at least seven police officials in five days over negligence in duty.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Rafiq Shaheer, who heads Herat’s council of experts, said various sides were involved in destroying the country’s current system.

He said the strength of Afghan security forces was not enough to crush the insurgency and the Afghans people should stand, support and fight alongside them against the terrorists.

He said despite foreign forces’ departure and reduced foreign aid, the Afghan forces were able to ensure security and defend the country.